I thought that was weird too! I think what is happening is, the dark part of the pattern draws your eye to the V and it looks v necked, but if you were closer you'd see the lighter colored fabric just above making the rounded neck. Clearly I was obsessing too much about it. :)fivesouth, both those dresses look great on you and I love the white shirt underneath. I want to do that this Fall+Winter to try and get more wear out of some of my sleeveless dresses.

Thanks, Vava and Julie! Julie, good catch, I think you might be right about the pattern making the rounded neck look like a v-neck on the website pic. Either that, or someone flubbed up on the production side of things, which wouldn't surprise me one bit! ;-P

Haha! I guess I don't check the sale section online as often because rare that I see my wish list items go on sale...and most of it is summer items. Well if it's been on sale for two weeks...that was a fast mark down!

Yes... But still waiting for better off.... Like 50%I was in my phone today and for some reason some items had 50% off in subheading... But 30% off in check out... These were originally 75% off in summer like cashmere tee. Maybe they are getting ready for better sale. Will wait to see.... Very spoiled with 75% off... Want it again

Kate, don't we all :). But to remind you, those mega sales (75%, 5-days sale) coincidentally (or NOT) occurred during those PR - social media disasters: the silly drunk VP, and that second open letter from a disheartened, long-term customer. So, imo, unless they have another social media thing blowing up on them, there wont be 75% off...

I bought the navy micropleated midi skirt (c8793) recently. I was surprised it was so heavy and substantial feeling for poly. This is so much nicer than the pleated sunburst skirt from last year (which I also have in navy) - it's longer and hits just at the kneecap and the stitched down pleats are so flattering and keep the hips from looking too poofy. I think it will be so pretty this Fall and Winter with tights and sweaters. My only concern is will the poly drive me crazy with the very dry air and static issues up here in Michigan. Hoping a silk slip between the tights and skirt will fix any issues.

$25 GIFT CARD OFFER..We'll be running a special promotion from Thurs Sept. 24 - Saturday Sept. 26. When customers spend $125 or more, they will receive a gift card/$25 that can be used for their NEXT purchase (valid thru Oct. 31st.)

Final sale happy ending story - ordered the Collection Lace Circle Skirt and the Reid Cone Denim jeans during last week's sale (on that day that final sale disappeared for a nano second), and I must say, this is a rare occasion when I don't think I'll be returning either one!

I was worried it would look dowdy (midi length is tough) but instead it looks fresh and summery. I think it can transition to fall with tights and boots. It's machine washable! We'll see how that goes, but for now,I'm very happy with this. I got it for $97 (original price was $250).

I also got the Reid Cone Denim in class rinse and resin rinse for $37 each. I'm kept the classic rinse (item B0740) and returned the resin rinse (A8754). These look like cigarette jeans on the model but are really more like skinnies or jeggings. The resin is definitely more of a jegging (which is why I am returning it). The classic rinse is nice - super stretchy --and has a mid rise that is super flattering. It's a tad long so I probably will get it hemmed. I had to resist ordering another one - it's that nice. But how many skinnies does a girl need?

Thanks for both of those reviews -- I'd been wondering about the Reid Cone jeans (in particular due to the price) but it's good to have that info about these fitting more like a jegging/skinny (b/c you're right, how many skinnies does a girl need?!) I'll check out the skirt as well. In any case, thanks for this info.

I ordered my "normal" size. They are TTS - but I can see why people would say they run small, since they are a skinny/jegging style rather than straight or cigarette. The classic rinse is nice material and the mid rise is very flattering. I'm glad I got it.

For what it's worth, I find that other jean styles (bootcut, matchstick) don't flatter me because the low rise "waist" (really a hip) is tight on me but the legs on those are too boxy, so what looks like a slim (but not skinny) leg on the model looks like four-year-old boy pants on me.

And don't forget... we can no longer use our J Crew credit cards or rewards cards for on-line purchases! I feel like we Canadians are the kids that have to sit at the little table for Thanksgiving Dinner! J Crew is not working very hard to keep our business.

I have only ordered one thing from the website since the Borderfree start-up - the (sale) Kiki flats which I adore and which my stores don't seem to carry. The b&m stores have better prices for sure. Will not be surprised if the Canadian version of the website disappears within a year, I used to order regularly but between the dollar exchange and the pricing games I have stopped completely. Except for the Kikis ;)

I've definitely been taking advantage of the fact that there are so many Canadian stores now. I've found a few things that we didn't get in Vancouver elsewhere (namely Toronto and Calgary), and I'll often do a send sale when possible (I've had great experiences doing phone purchases with Chinook Ctr.)

I received my order of three pairs of Factory Skimmer pants. All are fully lined. I take a 4 or 6 in J. Crew pants (6 in Andies/Marti and 4 in the Campbell/Minnies) and took a 6 in these skimmers.

FACTORY SKIMMER PANT IN WOOL (dark olive - color is absolutely beautiful): fabric is quite thin, which is disappointing. The fit is fine. I will keep these because I love the color.

FACTORY SKIMMER PANT IN PINSTRIPE WOOL: best fabric and fit of the three. Fabric was a bit thicker than the dark olive wool version. Fit was closeted to that of years past. I'm not 100% sure if the pinstripe is navy or black and I hope to wear it with both. I think I will get a lot of wear out of these.

FACTORY SHIMMER SKIMMER PANT: My least favorite pair - haven't decided if I will keep them or not. I was hoping these could be my go-to party pants of the season but the fit is looser than the other two pairs but not so much so that I think a 4 would work (lots of extra room in the waist). Fabric isn't as pretty as I thought it would be.

I got all three pairs on sale plus promo and paid something like $45-50 per pair and I feel that was the right price point for the quality.

I don't want to be "THAT GIRL" but Luxette - I have two pairs of NWT wool Skimmers for sale right now in my Poshmark closet for $20 a piece, size 6. One in navy & one in the black/grey houndstooth, both from last year. I didn't know if you might be interested! Email me if you are - tayloradaly AT yahoo DOT com & I will cut you a better deal via PayPal. Both pairs are also fully lines & I can send you pics.

I immediately pinned and wishlisted the sweater jacket when I first saw it. Ordered it and was so looking forward to wearing it. Pictured it with a silk tee for the office and with jeans for the weekend. And then it arrived.........To make a long story short: though I love the Chanel vibe of the jacket I returned it. Not because the fit is off, as some reviewers said. I find it is TTS, maybe a bit narrow in the arms, but not a deal breaker. I find the jacket well made too, no problems with unraveling etc.What I don’t like is that the colors are not bright/clear as I expected, I find them a bit ‘murky’ and greyish. And the metallic threads don’t help (didn’t see that mentioned in the description on the website btw).Difficult question: would I recommend the jacket? Yes and no. Yes, because it's different, a change from a blazer. No, because the idea is great but the execution isn't. I ended up with yes to balance out the other reviews which I felt were very negative.

Tried a couple of items this week worth commenting on, including the V-neck Cardigan with Fringe Trim (item e3676), which I can confirm is 100% merino wool. It is a shorter cardigan than the "Classic v-neck," but it is not the dream yarn blend. The fringe trim is nice enough, not too trendy or "fringe-y" for me, and the cardigan hits at the top of the hip, so not too cropped by my standards. I'd say it is fairly close fitting, not at all loose or slouchy like the "classic v-neck," so I went with a size M rather than S and am glad I did (I am generally between these sizes for tops); the sleeves may be a touch long, but not so much that it looks silly, and I wouldn't want the body of the sweater to be any tighter. The merino is not super-heavy but feels substantial enough, though we'll see what happens after wearing the sweater a few times.

Also tried the Lookout High Rise Jean in Resin Wash, which is quite nice, but even on sale not worth it for me to keep. I absolutely love high rise pants/jeans, but I don't think these are all that different from the High-Rise Rockstar Skinny jeans at Old Navy, which are a *fraction* of the price (even though the Lookouts were on promo). The wash, treatment, etc. is a little more upscale on the Lookouts, but it wasn't worth the $50+ price difference for me.

Embroidered Satin Mary Janes E1086 - So cute! I wear a 5.5, and it fits TTS. I have slightly wide feet, and these were comfortable on. Definitely not the type of flats you'll wear daily since its satin fabric, (inside is genuine leather), with embroidered silver stars; I would hate for it to get scuffed, or scratched. That said, not sure if I'll keep it, considering I didn't buy these on sale.

Collection silk-wool Top in Painterly Flowers E2300 - Ordered a size 2. It has darts, and fit is not boxy like their previous tops. It felt snug (I'm 36B). I usually can fit size regular 2s, but this one does not fit TTS, unless your bust is small. The fabric feels stiff, and doesn't feel soft to the body. Exposed zipper on the back (boo). It's a v neck, which I didn't care much for, I wish they didn't make it a v neck. The print is pretty, and so is the color; it would go well with grey, ivory, dusty pink, even forest green. It felt mumsy, and old fashion. And I tried it on with the Patio trouser and mary janes, so its not like my outfit was outdated. Ha! For the price, its not a keeper.

Petite Patio Pant in bi-stretch Wool E0996 in navy - Yay for Patio pants! I love, love how the P2 fits perfectly. The fabric: Nice lightweight wool fabric, with stretch!The length: hits above my ankle bone. Great length (I'm 4'11). The waist: I'm short waisted, so the pant is high waist on me, just covering my belly button, and that's totally fine; I think it looks cool, especially when I wore my grey Tilly sweater. I like how its wide legged, but not too wide. I wish it came in more colors for petite. I would have ordered the vintage shell.

thanks for your reviews JSR! i'm interested in the petite patio pants and was wondering what your waist, hip, and inseam measurements are. i'm a fellow petite but i have wide hips so am wondering if the patio will work for me (or if i should just give up on wide-legged pants forever)

@Melodie - Hi! I didn't find the pants itchy. Maybe I'm not as sensitive. The fabric blends are: 55% wool, 20% viscose, 19% polyester, 6% elastine. This might change the feel of the fabric because wool is blended with other yarns...

@Dmitri - No problem. I don't have a measuring tape to measure myself, but I always wear a P2 in JCrew pants (not jeans). I never have to go above or below that size, but i have a little tummy, and could probably go for a P4, but the P2 fits like a glove for me. I'm not curvy, but a boyish figure. Try it out in two different sizes, you never know, wide-legged pants might work for your curvy figure.

I completely agree with JSRs review of the Patio Pants in Petite. I'll have review and IRL pics up tomorrow on the blog but the Petite Patio Pants are fantastic. Just like JSR the length hits just above the ankle bone. The regular length was perfect for flats but needed another 1/2 in length to look really good with heels. The fit is great and the material is not itchy at all. I took an 8 Petite. And the Blue Stone color looks almost Chambray and I'm hoping easy to dress down. It's a gorgeous color!

OT (& I posted this elsewhere but wanted to try asking in a newer post): Factory offer is now 35% off + free shipping. Is $51 for the factory textured quilted puffer vest worth it? I'm tempted but I would prefer to pay less than $50 if at all possible...

So I made a trip to Arden and bingo...They had a pair of the Sloan D'orsay in Bluebird suede in my size. I also got the Khaki utility jacket (B8449) that is sold out. The shoes were $28.00 and the jacket was $28.00 as well. I really liked the jacket and think it definitely looks fall to me even though it came out in spring. Can't wait to wear it. I also picked up a necklace and 3, yes 3 handbags!!! I got the downing bucket bag in english saddle (could carry every day, really love) and mint green (love and will have for next year) and a downing hobo bag. I really like this style, had not seen it in person until today. I didn't have much time to really look but they had some great stuff. I think this has become my go to place for J.Crew even if it is almost 2 hours away.

Nice finds, once again! I'm thinking about making another trip next weekend to the Lynchburg store. It sucks that the closest retail store is 2 hours away, and the closest Factory store is 3 hours away... but to have the clearance store an hour away? I'll take it. :)

I bought the plush fleece teddy jacket in the brown and I am completely on the fence about it. It fits just like advertised, looks just like it does in the picture but I just cannot decide if I like it or not. I have nothing like it, even though I have tons of coats. It is cute. Hoping someone else will ring in about it and help me decide.

I'm leaning toward keeping it because it's so different from anything. It's like an elevated fleece. I think it'll look good with Pixie pants, or even a leather skirt and black tights and boots. Or, it can be pretty casual with boyfriend jeans and a white button down. I sized down, so it's not crazy big on me (I am usually an XS/S, and I ordered an XXS). It zips and there's still room to layer.

Hi Heather, and thank you for your reviews! That sweater looks super cute on you. I also love the pacey plaid shirt in the previous post. I'm still waiting for mine to arrive due to a mixup. At least I know what it looks like IRL while I wait for my replacement.

Have had a gift card burning away in my purse for a month, but just sooo uninterested in everything in the store right now that I couldn't find a thing to spend it on until this past weekend. Picked up the boy shirt in mini gingham in the eggplant tone - this shirt does NOT fit like the usual boy shirts! Runs small across the shoulders and in the arms, and is actually closer to the perfect shirts through the body. I am almost always an 8 or a 6 in boy shirts and had to go up to a 10 in this one for it to fit properly. I see the website reviewers noting the same problem. But the colour is great! I paired it with the solid v-neck cardigan in the wine, which really makes the eggplant tones pop in the shirt. The cardigan is 100% merino and is tts. For those of you loving the v-neck pullover with the leather panels, I should note that Banana has a near-duplicate of it right now which is half the price (and very nice, just bought it).

Ordered the sweatshirt with side slits, C9627, and love it. Got both the grey and black, may go back for the navy. It's 100% cotton and so cozy. I think it can be dressed up and down. Fit is TTS to slightly small. I'm a solid size 8 or medium in most J Crew tops, but I have broad shoulders, so I ordered a large due to slim fit description. I could probably have gone with the medium, but I can layer something under if I want and allow for a little shrinkage. I'm 5'10", have a long torso, and the length is perfect, it hits low hip. Does have side slits, but not cut to high.

Does anyone have any experience with the melton wool? I bought a coat made of it last year but I ended up returning it because it felt so thin, I just couldn't believe it would keep me warm in western PA winters. But I've read a few reviews where people have said it is really warm, and waterproof. I love the look of the toggle coat this year (similar to the duffle coat from a few years back, but not in stadium cloth) but I won't be able to really test it until well past the 60 day return window. Thank you!

A big thumbs up on the deck-striped tee - item E1143. I am typically a L/12 on top but due to the reviews on it being a loose fit, I tried the grey/black colorway both a M and L to compare. The medium showed up yesterday and it had a loose fit but not sloppy and I also appreciated that it is 29" long, which I appreciate as I am 5'8". The knit is similar to a light cotton sweater which makes it a little different than your standard cotton tee. This is going to be a regular item through the fall I am sure.

Today the tee was marked down to $34.99 in the grey and white/orange combo and with the 30% off and free shipping it is a great deal!

I also recently received the Sloan flats in Cabernet - these are a big love as well. I am a 9.5 in all Crew shoes with rare exception and these were a perfect fit. I love that similar to the glossy d'orsay heels, that the front part of these shoes fit over a larger part of my foot and I think that adds to the comfort of the shoes, they're not rubbing on an odd part of the foot like some other d'orsay style shoes can. I like the asymmetrical line of the shoe and they are a perfect shade for fall. Another win.

I wanted to update my review of the classic full-length pant in windowpane plaid. I ordered the 4P after the 2P was a little snug. The 4P is better, but still on the smaller side, so I would say these run small (although I don't usually order size P pants, so that may be why). The P are still full length and are perfect with a heel (I tried them with the Elsie pumps and they are the perfect length -- I am 5'3" ish). They are fully lined and are 70% wool and 30% poly. I love these pants. I love the subtle windowpane print and the flat front with the side zip. They are a modern cut and are perfect for fall and winter.

So I had a surge of Crewlade today. First, I ordered the placed stripe shirt in olive/navy that went on sale (sorry to hear that some of you didn't like the fit, it was perfect on me) and the long puffer for my daughter (that is on promo, so got the 30% off). Then I went to my store to look and I couldn't resist the Elsie stars d'Orsay pumps. I actually sized down in these, to a 6H. I think it's because they are satin and d'Orsay (never buy d'Orsay pumps in a bigger size). Last, I tried the stretch cargo pants in the orchid color. I loved the pants and the color, that reminds me of my beloved thistle toothpick cords (but more grey). I didn't buy these today but I will if they go on promo and a 30% off (although they are lightweight, more Spring and early Fall than F/W). My regular 26 fit perfectly. HTH somebody!

Toothpick Cords - My first time trying these. I got the 26petite. They fit well in the waist, very comfortable, but look and feel too tight in the thighs. I have the toothpick in denim in 26 and they look better and feel better, so maybe it's the difference in fabric. The sherwood green is a beautiful, dark forest green, so I'm considering exchanging for a size up, but am wondering if they will be too big in the waist. Anyone try these? Did you size up? TIA

maryeb, I am waiting on my order with the new matchstick cords. I noticed the cords are no longer 98% cotton/2% spandex. There is lycocell (? sp) in the new fabric and I'm worried that it will make the fabric "grabby" in the thigh area. Your comment on the fit of the toothpicks makes me think I'll be returning the matchsticks. Was hoping J Crew wouldn't mess with the classics but it looks like they did. Bet the corduroys for men don't contain lycocell.

So I ordered using their WINWIN promo the Pull-On Jumper, and the Tailored Tee.

I wasn't sure if the Pull-On jumper (in black, E2352) would fit me only because I'm 4'11, and usually stayed away from regular size jumpers unless it came in petite. Tried an XS at the store, and felt a tad big, only because its meant to look blousy from the top, and relaxed fit at the bottom. So i ordered an XXS, to see the difference. The XXS was tight on the waist, chest, and sleeves. So I'll be going to the store in exchange for an XS. Overall happy with the jumper, with just the length of the pant to hem. It's on promo for $98.50.

Tailored Tee (B6208) in bowling green - Really surprised at how much I ended up liking this top. Polished, nice construction, a-line fit. I'm 36B and size XS fit me perfectly. I stayed away from it because its poly. It's not the flimsy poly though. It's thick and perfect for fall. I love the green color, and will go well with camel/khaki, grey, navy or dark denim jeans. Even with leopard print shoes!

I will be returning the Pull-On jumper. After trying the correct size at home, I feel that it is really not the right size for me after all. I'm short waisted, my torso fell a little too short for the top portion of the jumper. It just didn't feel right. Oh well...

Dear J.Crew Aficionadas & Aficionados: Please feel free (and encouraged) to share your thoughts and opinions. :) However, please note that this is still a personal blog. So comments that are considered inappropriate (e.g. obscene, racist, homophobic, personal attacks, rude, and just plain mean) will be removed.

Incidentals

The following blog is just a forum for people to express their thoughts and opinions about J.Crew. Also, please note that most (if not all) of the images come from J.Crew's website and/ or catalog. Lastly, J.Crew is *not* affiliated with this site. :)